The National tribune., 1887-05-05
OUR RURAL TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
MANAGING MANURE.

through Tue HcallnS process Which - 80 lntehse
that the manure is well burned up. This is
exceedingly injurious TO the manure, and can,
and should be- prevented. 1t occurs, or is liable
TO occur, when the manure is thrown loosely
into pile and, without being disturbed, will
commence 10 generate heat. Horse manure
has stronger tendency in that direction than
that Of most any other animal, and this can be
prevented and the value of the manure main
tanned if attended to as IL should be. There is
no trouble where, rs is sometimes the case, horse
manure is cast into the hog-pen, as it is then
worked over with the hog manure whereby
both are improved. Another method which is
equally as effectual in preventing heating is to
cart the same under a shed, where cattle are
accustomed TO tread or lie; when packed thus
closely, and wet, as il occasionally must be by
the urine of animals, it is kept moist until
wanted for use. The same practice in connec-
tion with sheep would be valuable and equally
as efiectual. We have always found that any
manure that, left TO itself thrown loosely into
pile, was liable to become heated, when pack
cd tightly under the tread Of animals would be
preserved with all its manureal value retained.
Sheep manure while thus kept closely packed,
excluding the air, will not heat, but when
loosely pitched into pile will soon heat and
expel the valuable elements of fertility.
OVER FEEDING.
Cases Of the death of cows from eating feed
that was thought TO contain poison occurred
recently at Orange, n. Y, and some of the feed
was sent TO the New York Experiment Station
for examination. 1t was found that the amount
VI feed TO each animal was four quarts of that
in question mixed with two quarts of wheat
middlings and corn and cob meal, fed twice
each day. An examination of the questionable
food proved it to be the refuse material of a
starch factory, and known as "gluten meal"
An examination failed 10 detect any poisonous
alkaloid occasioned by decomposition, as is
sometimes the case, and the i'll effects OCCASION
ed by the use of the feed are believed TO have
been caused by injudieious or over feeding, so
far as an important element of food is concerned.
While one and a half pounds of abuminoid
elements is an ordinary healthy feeding ration,
in the food in question the amount fed was
three pounds, aud if continued for any great
length of time was believed to be 4 cause of
sickness which would in time be followed by
death. Similar effects have resulted from an
excessive use of cotton-seed meal, and DIR. Stur-
devant lays il down as a principle that feed
ing of grain or of highly nitrogenOus food is
always attended with danger, if carried 10 ex-
cess. So far as our experience goes the number
of animals that will be likely TO die from over
feeding will be small in comparison with those
that die from the opposite cause.
ABOUT CHURNING.
To obtain the best success in butter making.
the temperature of the cream should he neither
too high nor too low. LII too high, the butter
.la.n H.
is too low the globues will refuse 10 unite
Different seasons of the year require different
degrees of temperature within a moderate
range. If the cream is inclined TO be rOpy, as
is sometimes the use in cold weather, or often
the system of the COW has received a sudden
chill or shock, a higher temperature would be
required, and a slight dlution with water that
is warm, so as TO dissolve and wash out the
albuminous matter that adheres 10 the fat glob-
ules, thus letting them free SO that they can
unite.
NOTES.
As sow's filters improve in size aud
quality as the dam becomes older and their
milk usually increases, il is better 10 keep old
sOws for breeding than TO fatten them for pork.
Sheep in the field seek the highest knobs
for sleeping places. These are generally poor,
but sheep will soon enrich them. The grass is
sweeter there, and the sheep are most healthy
in such localities.
Cows that cat like gluttons and do not
yield milk corresponding with the food con-
sumed are sure 20 entail loss. Where there are
one or two such cows in the herd, the best ami
mails are compelled 10 supply the deficiency on
the part Of the inferior ones. and for that reason
a dairy herd should consist only of selected
stock.
- Heifers coming in with their first calves
should be treated very gently, the udders and
teats handled, and they be made TO become as
customed 10 the attentions of the milller. The
treatment of the hefer in the beginning will
shape her conduct in the future, and her dis
position, as well as submission TO being MIXED,
depends on the first week after she brings her
first calf.
Cholera and lung complaints are diseases
that were comparatively unknown a quarter of
century back, and the typhoid fever is now
said TO be another disease with swine. The
epidemic diseases have bafiled the efforts Of the
best veterinary surgeons in the country, and
until more light snail be thrown on the cause
and cure Of the diseases, and especially of
cholera, the farmers can only use prevention.
While the cholera disease may as yet be beyond
medical skill, there are those who attribute the
cause 10 the lack of vigor in swine as compared
with the stock in former years
As corn is a staple crop il is usually made
staple food for hogs. When closed in pens,
but little clean, fresh water is given them. Ii
turned on the growing clover, they are rnged"
in order TO prevent roofing. What is necessary
TO prevent the epidemic diseases in herds is TO
give the hogs the same attention that is be-
slowed on all other classes Of stock Because
anything will do for a hog" rs is supposed, is
no reason for confirming the animal 10 a single
diet or withholding green food and that which
affords variety. The hog is not naturally
filthy animal, and can no more thrive in filth
than can the steer, while pure air and water
are very necessary.
Cows often get choked. IL is well 10 know
Of some quick and thorough remedy. A
farmers wife writes the following TO an ex-
change: A choking cow can often be relieved
By pouring cold water into its ear. Take cold
water in pitcher or teapot, turn the animals
head 10 one side and pour good stream directly
into the ear. This will cause the cow 10 Jump
and shake its head fercely, and the jerking
motion will often dislodge the obstruction The
idea is 10 make the animal make an effort TO free
itself The general practice of pushing the
obstruction down the throat or crushing il
gives the animal no chance 10 help itself A
good syringe would be the best thing TO force
the water into the ear with, but few families
have one ready for use, SO the common teapot
will answer.
1t pays TO clean out the coops every day,
provided the droppings are carefully preserved.
The droppings begin todeteriorate in quality as
soon as they reach the floor.
The fresher the egg the smaller the air
suck in the large end, and when cooked the
stale egg can be peeled like an orange, but the
contents Of fresh egg adhere to the skin when
hard boiled.
The so-called Japan Giant" chestnut Is
raised from seeds, and is not as its name implies